Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Critics score the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 88 (clear consensus) and the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 91 (clear consensus) out of 100, from 9 and 6 professional reviews. 4 outlets reviewed both: 2 scored the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max higher and 2 gave both the same score. On average those critics put the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 5 points ahead.
Image: AppleApple iPhone 17 Pro Max
9 professional reviewers tested the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, and 9 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.
All 9 reviews of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max →
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Image: AppleApple iPhone 18 Pro Max
6 professional reviewers tested the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, and 6 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: size and weight.
All 6 reviews of the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max →
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Where every review landed
Each mark is one professional review, converted to 0–100Which one is for you?
Pick the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if
- you care most about battery and cameras
The catch: It is heavy and expensive, with a large camera bump and a divisive design.
Pick the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max if
- price worries you: 4 of 9 critics fault the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max on it, against 1 of 6 for this one
- you want the one critics rate higher (91 against 88)
The catch: It is big, heavy and pricier than last year.
In our words, from what the critics praise and complain about. It never changes a score.
What critics praise and fault
How many of each product's reviews mention the topic| Topic | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 8 of 9 praise | 5 of 6 praise |
| Battery life | 6 of 9 praise 1 of 9 fault | 5 of 6 praise |
| Size and weight | 3 of 9 fault | 2 of 6 fault |
| Price | 4 of 9 fault | 1 of 6 fault |
| Picture quality | 2 of 9 praise | not mentioned |
Critics who reviewed both
The fairest comparison: the same reviewer, the same standards| Outlet | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Who scored higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert Reviews | 80 | 95 | iPhone 18 Pro Max +15 |
| TechRadar | 90 | 95 | iPhone 18 Pro Max +5 |
| Tom's Guide | 90 | 90 | Same |
| WIRED | 90 | 90 | Same |
Scores converted to 0–100. Tiles with a dashed border are estimated from the verdict. Tap a score to read that review.
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Common questions
Which is better, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Critics rate the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max higher: 91 (clear consensus) against 88 (clear consensus). 4 outlets reviewed both: 2 scored the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max higher and 2 gave both the same score. On average those critics put the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 5 points ahead.
Do critics agree about the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: clear consensus, scores from 80 to 92. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max: clear consensus, scores from 83 to 95.